Modern Mining June 2015

PLATINUM

Mechanised mining skills on

Murray & Roberts Cementation has recently been awarded a three-year contract extension at Northam Platinum’s Booysendal Division. The company is no stranger to the Bushveld Complex’s Eastern Limb. It was awarded its first contract with Booysendal Division, which is located about 40 km fromMashishing, in early 2010 to develop the Division’s UG2 North underground mine. The company’s work at Booysendal has given it the opportunity to showcase its considerable mechanised mining skills.

A unique aspect of the project is the concept of a reverse decline which connects the concentra- tor plant and other mine infra- structure situated on a plateau with the on-reef declines that access the un- derground mine and outcrop on the side of the valley. This design has enabled Northam to mi- nimise the mine footprint in the picturesque valley in which the mine has been established. Five years later, the company’s position on site has been secured for an additional three years as it fulfils the role of mining develop- ment and stoping on contract to the end of

2017. Considering this is one of Murray & Roberts Cementation’s larger contract mining projects, it is significant for the company and showcases the service value it is providing to Northam Platinum and its second PGM mine. According to Booysendal’s General Manager, Willie Theron, Murray & Roberts Cementation has (since January 2015) made significant underground mining advancements, complet- ing 2 400 m of development and 224 000 m² of stoping. Ore produced from stoping over this period exceeds 2,7 Mt. October this year is expected to represent another milestone achievement for the com- pany as it reaches steady-state production – 187 500 tonnes per month (tpm). At this rate, the Booysendal UG North mine will deliver its annual 160 000 oz/a PGM production target. “We are on track to achieve this produc- tion rate from October this year,” says Braam Blom, Project Executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation. All underground mining utilises a mecha- nised room and pillar mining methodology and a 122-unit fleet of Sandvik and Aard LHDs, drill rigs, mechanised bolters, hybrid bolters and related equipment has been deployed. Until recently, a surface workshop has provided all equipment maintenance needs but a new underground workshop was commissioned in April 2015 and is expected to deliver enormous time and cost saving benefits. Theron is particularly proud of the mine’s mechanised methodology and believes this Braam Blom, Project Executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation.

The decline entrance for mechanised equipment at Booysendal UG2 North mine.

22  MODERN MINING  June 2015